Picture window construction



Aug. 25, 1959 F. o. OERLY 2,900,680

lFICTUE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 26, 195'? INVENTOR. F/'ea 0. Oeg/ States Pater ,900,680 ECS Patented Aug. .25,- 19.53

PICTURE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Fred O. Oei-ly, Bonneville, AMo., assignor of one-half to Harland R. Stretz, Bonneville, Mo.

1 This invention relates to building stiucture and, more particularly, to window construction which includes pane Structure tiltable within its frame to various positions depending upon seasonal variations in the weather.

The most important object .of this invention lis to provide picture window construction wherein the pane structure within the frame may be tilted from an outer verticall winter position to an inwardly tilted summer position to thereby change the angle of reflection of the'pane with respect to outside light and permit a greater amount of light to enter the building during winter months, while reflecting .a greater proportion of light rays away from the building during summer months. Y Y

Another important object of this vinvention is to provide picture window construction as described wherein the lowermost edge of the pane structure is shiftable horizontally so that kthe relative angularity of the pane with respect to a vertical reference plane may be changed to .cause a greater proportion of light rays to be reilected from the pane before the same enter the building `during summer months, than during winter months when the pane Vstructure is disposed in a substantially vertical position. l

Also an important object of this invention is to provide window construction wherein potted plants or the like may be disposed at the lowermost portion ofthe shiftable pane `structure so as to be located within the building onV theA inside of the pane during winter months and which will be disposed without the building on the outside ofthe pane upon shifting of the latter to a winter position. Other important ,objects of the invention relate to a frame for receiving a shiftable Vpane wherein there are provided a pair of horizontally spaced grooves alternately receiving the lowermost edge .of the pane sothat the same may be shifted to alternate winter and summer positions with thev pane being tilted downwardly during wintermmonths; to the provision of a frame wherein grooves'are utilized to receivethe edges `of :the pane to thereby preclude the necessity of hinge mechanisms .or

the like; to the provision of triangularly shaped cutouts in the sides ,of the lframe receiving the pane structure to limit theextent of shifting movement of the pane structure to a' path of travel between the grooves alternately ,receiving the lowermost edge .thereof'p-thereby preventing dislodgement of the pane structure romits frame; to triangular inserts which may be positioned within the cutouts to support the upright marginal portions of the pane structure when the same is disposed in one of its positions and which inserts may be readily shifted to the other side of the pane when the latter is moved to another one of its positions; and to other lesser important objects and details of construction which will become obvious as the following specication progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of picture window construction embodying the concepts of the present invention,

certain of the parts being broken away to reveal details of construction; I

Fig. 1 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectionalview of the construction shown in Fig. 1 and illustratingthe pane structure in one o f its positions;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional `view similar to the one illustrated invFig. 2 and w'showing `the pane structure in another of its positions; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, ,further .enlarged horizontal, cross-sectional view taken onthey :line IV-IV. of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. ,f Adjustable picture window `construction las .contemplated by this invention is designated generally bythe numeral 10 and as preferred components thereof includes a rectangular frame 12 having la pair of spaced, opposed upper and lower members 14 and 16 and side elements 18. .Shiftably mounted within, frame 12 is vpane structure designated generally 20 and which includes a rectangular pane 22 and spaced, opposed upper and lowertedge components 24 and 26 respectively land `side marginal components 28. v i

As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, member '14,is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 30 therein Alocated adjacent the normally outermost face' 32 of frame 12, while member 16 is provided with kaipelilfojf horizontally spaced grooves 34 and 36,-groove 3,4 being located adjacent face 32 of frame 12 and lying ina common vertical plane with groove 30, whereas groove 36 is disposed adjacent normally innermost face` 38 .of frame 12. Grooves 3,0, 34 and 36 are of suflicient width to receive the edge components 24 and 26 respectively of pane structure 20 and, as apparent from y1"i gs.2 and 3, grooves 34 and 36 alternately receive edge component 26 of structure 20. The distance between the remotest portions of opposed grooves 30 and 34 as well `as groove 36 is greater than -the distance between the edgesvof components 24 and 26 for reasons to be ,hereinafter outlined.

Each of the side elements 18 is provided with inwardly facing, opposed triangularly shaped cutouts 40 which are adapted to receive corresponding side marginalcom ponents 2 8, it being notedy that "theuppermostvapex of each of the triangular cutouts 40 merge with respective ends of groove 30. Furthermore, the base ofv cutout 40 is substantially equal in length to the distance .between grooves 34 and 36.

A triangular insert 42 is located within eachofthe cutouts 40 and is removably held in position thereinuby suitable screw means 44. As shown in Figs. ,2 .and 3, each of the triangular inserts 42 is constructed so as to present a right angle at the base :thereof and make the same reversible when pane structure .Z0-is .Sl'lfted withinframe 12. i i v v Each of the grooves 30, 34 and 36 respectivelyv is provided with resilient l gasket means 46 so as 'towrender e the pane structure weather-tight at the'upper and lower edges thereof, and ladditional resilientgasketlmaterial 48 is provided on the vertical marginal edges ofsides 18 defining corresponding 'cutouts 40 `to provide Yavseal when marginal 'components 28 are, disposedg against the' Same. a .t t l,

The member 16 is provided with a longitudinally extending depression '50 formed therein of sufficient dimensions to accommodate llower pots 52 or the like, and it is noted that such pots 52 may be supported by structure 54 of building Wall 56.

From the foregoing description it can now be-understood that pane structure 20 is shiftable from a substantially vertical winter position illustrated in Fig. 2 to a tilted location during summer months, which is illustrated in Fig. 3. The upper edge component 24 of pane structure 20 is slidably and pivotally disposed witliin groove 30 and, inasmuch as the distance between the remotest opposed portions of grooves 30 and 34 or 36 is greater than the distance between upper and lower edge components 24 and 26 respectively of pane structure 20, the latter may beshifted from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, or vice versa, by merely moving structure 20 upwardly in groove 30 until the iowermost part of component 26 clears member 16, whereupon component 26'may be shifted horizontally to another one of the grooves 34 or 36.

After the pane structure 20 has been shifted to a position with lower component 26 disposed in one of the .grooves 34 or 36, the triangular inserts 42 may be in- -serted in corresponding cutouts 40 to provide support for marginal components 28. By v irtueof the configuration -of inserts 42, the same are adapted to be utilized in fsupporting relationshipto marginal components 28, irrespective of the angular disposition of pane structure 20, and it can be appreciated that by merely turning inserts 40 one hundred-eighty degrees, the same may be fitted finto cutouts 40 in supporting relationship to respective 'marginal components 28. The screw means 44 with which triangular inserts 42 are secured to respective elements 18 may be quickly and easily removed when it is desired to shift pane structure 20 to another one of its positions. n Since pane structure 20 is normally disposed in the vertical position of Fig. 2 during winter months, a greater proportion of light rays are permitted to enter pane 222, inasmuch as there will not be as great a degree of reection of light while pane 22 is located in such 4vertical position, andvalso, flowers or the like within 'pots 52 will be disposed within the building and on the inside of pane structure 20 and thus will not be subiected to freezing weather conditions or the like. Furthermore, because of the disposition of pots 52 adjacent pane 22, light rays may readily pass through pane 22 and onto owers or the like within pots 52 to assure lthat the plants receive sufiicient sunlight.

However, when pane structure 20 is shifted to the position illustrated in Fig. v3, a greater proportion of light rays are reected from pane 22 downwardly than is the case when structure 20 is disposed in a vertical position and thus, the area within the building is maintained at a lower temperature. Also, light being deflected from the downwardly tilted surface of pane 22 is directed onto the plants within pots 52 to thereby facilitate growth of the same.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

` 1. In window construction, a frame provided with a pair of horizontal, vertically spaced, opposed members; and pane structure mounted in said frame and having upper and lower opposed edges, one of said members being provided with means pivotally and slidably receiving said upper edge of the structure and the other member having horizontally spaced means therein for alternately receiving the lower edge of the structure in any one of a plurality of preselected, spaced positions whereby the relative angularity of the structure with respect to a referencepoint may bechanged.

In window construction, a frame provided with a pair ofhorizontal, vertically spaced, opposed members; and pane structure mounted in said frame and having upper and lower opposed edges, the upper member being provided with a downwardly facing groove slidably and pivotally receiving said upper edge of the structure and the other member having a"pair of horizontally spaced upwardly facing grooves therein alternately receiving said lower edge of the structure whereby the relative angularity of the structure with respect to a reference point may be changed.

3. In window construction, a rectangular frame provided with pairs of opposed members and elements; and rectangular pane structure mounted in said frame and having pairs of opposed edges and margins, one of said membersl being provided with a groove slidably and pivotally receiving one of said edges of the structure, the other member having a pair of spaced grooves therein alternately receiving the other edge of the structure whereby the relative angularity of the structure with respect to a reference point may be changed and said element being provided with triangularly shaped cutouts receiving said margins of the structure for limiting the extent of shifting of said other edge of the structure to a path of travel between said spaced grooves in said other member.

4. In window construction, an upright rectangular frame provided with pairs of opposed members and elements; rectangular pane structure mounted in said frame and having pairs of opposed edges and margins, one of said members being provided with a groove slidably and pivotally receiving one of said edges of the structure, the other member having a pair of horizontally spaced grooves therein alternately receiving the other edge of the structure whereby the relative angularity of the structure with respect to` a reference point may be changed, the distance between the remotest portions of the grooves in opposed members being greater than the distance between said edges of the structure and said element being provided with triangularly shaped cutouts receiving said margins of the structure for limiting the extent of shifting of said other edge of the structure to a path of travel between said spaced grooves in said other member; and triangular inserts removably mounted in each of said cutouts for supporting corresponding margins of the structure when the said other edge of the structure is disposed in one of the grooves in said other member.

5. In window construction, an upright rectangular frame provided with opposed upper and lower members and side elements; and rectangular pane structure mounted in said frame and having opposed upper and lower edges and side margins, said upper member being provided with a groove slidably and pivotally receiving said upper edge of the structure, the lower member having a pair of horizontally spaced grooves alternately receiving said lower edge'of the structure whereby the relative angularity of the structure with respect to a vertical reference plane may be changed, said lower member being provided with an article-receiving depression positioned between said grooves therein whereby articles in said depression will be alternately disposed on opposed sides of said pane structure as the latter is shifted.

Mart Sept. 17, 1929 Spickelmier et a1 I une 26, 1945 

